Controller for machines



Sept. 5, 1944. E. vossEN 2,357,713

CONTROLLER FOR MACHINES Filed Dec. 27, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN A IN V EN TOR. DWHRD |/055/ Sept. 5, 1944-' voss 2,357,713

CONTROLLER FOR MACHINES Filed Dec. 27, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5 fig. 5 v

INVENTOR. (fin exp wssa-w Patented Sept. 5, 1944 CONTROLLER FOR MACHINES Edward Vossen, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Stop- Motion Devices Crp.,'Brooklyn, N. Y., a cor-.- poration of New York Application December 27, 1913, Serial No. 515,737 12 Claims. ,(oi. 66-157).

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in controllers for machines, and partiularly refers to controllers for knitting machines.

It is customary to provide a knitting machine with stop motion switches which close electric circuits for energizing a controller to stop the knitting machine when certain undesirable contingencies arise, such as knots coming along upon the yarn or thread, or the yarn or thread breaking, or a press-off or hole appearing in the knitted material. This invention proposes certain improvements in said controller.

The invention contemplates associating a signal lamp with the controller in such a manner that the operator is informed whether the controller is on or off. It is proposed that the controller be provided with a housing and that the signal lamp be mounted within the housing and be viewable through a Window opening therein.

The invention also relates to improved mechanism of the controller. It is proposed to provide the controller with a keeper element'connected with an armature and cooperative with a boltlike member in a certain fashion for latching the controller in an on position, and to provide means for electrically releasing the controller so that it may assume an off position.

The invention proposes certain means for urging the bolt-like member to .an off position and for moving the bolt-lik member to an on position, when and as desired.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel circuit for controlling the signal lamp and a certain electro-magnet of the controller.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a controller constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the controller with the front cover of the housing removed.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5+5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a bottom sectional view taken on the line 5-45 of Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the controller in an on position.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-'8 of Fig. 7.' I

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional View taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 1.

V Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line I'll- I0 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of the line I I -I I of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a schematic wiring diagram of the device.

The controller. in accordance with this invention, includes a housing I5 of box-like construction provided with several lugs I6 by which it may be attached on a suitable support. The housing I5 isalso provided with 'a removable cover II. A controller shaft I8 is turnably mounted on and through opposed walls of said housing I5 and is adapted to be manually turned to an on position. The shaft I8 is provided with a handle I9 by which it may be readily turned. It is also provided with a crank arm 20 for connection with suitable linkage intended to be connected with the knitting or other machine to stop same when the controller shaft I8 turns to its off position.

Resiilent means in the'nature of a relatively strong spring 2I is coaxially mounted on the controller shaft I8 for normally urging it into an -ofi position} The spring 2| has one of its ends 22 engaged through an opening in one of the walls for the housing I5 and has its other end engaged in an openingin a collar 23 fixedly mounted on the controller shaft I8. A stop collar 24 is fixedly mounted on the controller shaft I8 and is adapted to strike one of the walls for the housing I5 for limiting turning of the controller shaft I8 to its off position. More particularly, the collar 24 is located near one of the walls of the housing I5 and is of a larger diameter than the distance'from its center to said wall of the housing. A portion of the collar 24 is cut away forming a'flat side 25 which permits the shaft I8 to be turned to an on position. In Fig. 4 one end of the fiat side 25 is shown engaging the adjacent wall of the housing I5 which limits turning of the controller shaft I8 to its said off position. I

An armature 26 is movably mounted within the housing I5. The armature 26'is in the nature of a fiat plate of magnetic material horizontally disposed. Its back end portion is provided with pins 21 pivotally mounted in lugs 28 of. an electro-magnet support bracket 29. This bracket 29 is mounted on a support member 30 which is mounted upon the back wall of the housing I5. A finger 3| projects from the support bracket 29 and extends acros the top of the armature 26 for limiting upward pivoting of said armature.

An electro-magnet 32 is mounted on the electro-magnet support bracket 29 and is located directly beneath the armature 26 for attracting said armature. A spring 33 is mounted upon the bottom face of the armature 26, and acts against the electro-magnet 32 for normally urging the armature 26 upwards against said finger 3|. This position of the armature 26 must be considered as its initial position. The armature 26 has one of its ends laterally extended and formed into a keeper element 34. The latching position of the keeper element 34 is the position it is in when the armature 26 is in its said initial position.

A bolt-like member 35 is movably mounted in the housing l and is in an on position when engaged and held by said keeper element 34, which is then in its latching position. Thisbolt like member 35 has a radially extending hook portion 36 which is cooperative with the keeper element 34. This hook portion 36 extends from a base portion 31 which is pivotally mounted. A pivot pin 38 mounted. on one wall of the housing |5 pivotally connects with one end of the base portion 31 and the other end of said base portion is provided with a pivot 39 which is supported by a bracket 40 attached to the housing l5.

The bolt-like member 35 is normally urged to an off position when said controller shaft I8 is in an off position by a stud 4| which is mounted on a collar 42 fixedly mounted on the controller shaft It}. This stud 4| engages against a radially projecting finger 43 projecting from the base portion 31 of said bolt-like member 35. A spring 44 normally urges the boltlike member 35 into its on position. This spring 44 has one end attached to the base portion 31 and has its other end attached to a clip 45 mounted upon the back wall of thehousing l5. The spring 44 tends to turn the bolt-like member 35 counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4. However, the stud 4| engaging the finger. 43 of the bolt-like member 35 opposes the action of the spring 44. I

A stop 46 is mounted on the back wall of the housing I5 and is adapted to stop the motion of the finger 43 when the bolt-like member 35 is turning counter-clockwise under the action of the spring 44 and the hook portion 36 reaches and is engaged with the keeper element 34, see Fig. 8. The hook portion 36 has a beveled face 41 adapted to cam down the keeper element 34 as the bolt-like member 35reaches its on position, so that the keeper element 34 when released moves up behind the beveled face 41 (see particularly Figs. 4 and 8) to latch the bolt-like member 35 in its on position. It should be noted that in the on position of the controller shaft l8, and in the on position of the boltlike member 35, as illustrated in Fig. 8, the stud 4| has completely moved off of the finger 43 so that the spring 44 would be free to turn the bolt-like member 35 a further distance counterclockwise, except for the fact that the finger 43 is now engaging the stop 46. It should also be noted that the bolt-like member35 in Fig. 8 is caught by and held by the keeper element 34 from turning clockwise and that, the stud 4| indirectly holds the controller shaft l8 from turning counter-clockwise because it is jammed against the base portion of the finger 43. This action holds the controller shaft IS in its on position until such time that the keeper element 34 drops the hook portion 36 of the bolt-like member 35.

A signal lamp 50 is mounted within the housing l5. This signal lamp is mounted on a conventional socket having a clip 5| frictionally clipped upon a support prong 52 attached to the back wall of the housing l5. The signal lamp 50 is located immediately back of an aperture 53 formed in the cover IT. A lens 54 is mounted in and closes the aperture 53. A normally Open switch is mounted within the housing l5 and comprises an insulation block 55 mounted upon one of the walls of the housing l5 and supporting a stationary contact 56 and a normally spaced spring contact 51. An insulation pin 58 projects from the collar 23 and in the on position of the controller shaft |8 strikes against and bends the spring contact 51 so that its engages the stationary contact 56, closing said switch. An electric circuit 59 connects the electric lamp 50 and switch 56, 51 in series so that when the controller shaft la is in its on position the lamp 50 will be lighted. The circuit 59 is connected up with a pair of binding posts 60, 6| mounted on, but insulated from the housing l5. These binding posts are connected up with an electric supply circuit 62. g

A second electric circuit 63 connects with the supply circuit 62 and with the electro-magnet 32. and a controlling switch 64, 65. This controlling switch is in the nature of a leaf spring 64 supported on but insulated from a bracket 66 attached to the electro-magnet support bracket 29. A contact is mounted upon the hook portion 36 of the bolt-like member 35 and is cooperative with and electrically engages the spring contact 64 when the bolt-like member 35 is in its on position. The contact 65 is connected with the ground 61 which in this case results from the fact that the contact 65 is not insulated from but is electrically connected with the hook portion 36 of the bolt-like member 35. Said second circuit 63 may be traced from the ground 61, shown in Fig. 12, to the ground 61 of a stop motion device 10. This stop motion device 70 is of the type generally used on knitting machines to detect when a thread or yarn breaks, or when a knot in the thread or yarn approaches the needles of the knitting machine. The stop motion device 10 may be of any design and construction which closes said second electric circuit 63 in the emergencies mentioned, or othe emergencies.

The details of the stop motion device 16 will not be given in this specification as it forms no part; of this invention and devices of this type are generally known.

The armature 26 may be manually moved from its initial position by push button means which is characterized by a push button mounted through an aperture 12 in the cover IT. The push button II is held in a forward position by one arm 13 of a bell crank having another arm 14 located directly over the armature 26. The bell crank 13, 14 at the junction of its arms is provided with a loop portion 15 cut from the material of the arms thereof. A staple 16 passes through the loop portion 15 for pivotally supporting the bell crank 13, 14. A spring 11 is supported by the staple 16 and acts against the arm 13 for normally holding the push button H forwards.

When the push button -H is pushed inwards the bell crank l3, 14 will be pivoted so that the arm 14 thereof moves the armature 2B downwards and thus out of its initial position. This action will move the' keeper element 34 so that said keeper element drops the bolt-like member 35. This causes the controller to function to turn the controller shaft I8 to its off position.

'The operation of the controller for knitting and other machines, is as follows:

In Figs. 1-6 the controller is illustrated in its off position. It may be turned on by manually moving the handle IQ for turning the controller shaft l8 clockwise, as illustrated in Fig. 4, so that the collar 42 and the stud 4| carried by said collar are correspondingly turned. The stud 4| will move along the finger 43 of the bolt-like member 35 so that the spring 44 will pivot the bolt-like member 35 counter-clockwise as illustrated in Fig. 4 until it reaches its on position in which the beveled face 41 will cam past the keeper element 34 to reach the position illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. The stud 4| moved until it reached the base of the finger 43, as illustrated in Fig. 8. In this position of the finger 43, said finger forms a stop for preventing the stud 4| from moving back to its original position, and thus the controller shaft I8 is indirectly latched in its on position. In the on position of the controller the insulation pin 58 engages the spring contact'51, closing the switch 56, 51 which closes the electric circuit 59 causing the lamp to be illuminated. In the on position of the controller the contact 65 engages the spring contact 64, closing the switch 64, 65 which controls the electro-magnet 32. However, no current is being supplied to said electro-magnet because the circuit 63 is held open by the stop motion device 10. Only when the stop motion device 10 functions to close the circuit 63 will the electro-magnet 32 become energized. It then draws the armature 26 against the holding action of the spring 33 so that the armature 26 is moved from its initial position. The keeper element 34 is moved downwards from its latching position, freeing the bolt-like member 35. The controller shaft I8 is now free to turn to its off position. The bolt-like member 35 will be moved to its off position indirectly by the spring 22. The switch 64, 65 is now open, which opens the circuit 63 so that electric current is not wasted even though the stop motion device 10 now closes said circuit 63,

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a controller for machines, a housing, a controller shaft turnably mounted on said housing to be manually turned to an on position,

resilient means for turning said shaft to an off position, a signal lamp for the controller, a normally open switch, an electric circuit for lighting said lamp and controlled by said switch, and an arm connected with said shaft for holding said switch closed in the on position of said shaft, said signal lamp being mounted within said housing, and said housing having a window opening through which the light from the signal lamp may be seen.

3. In a controller for machines, a housing, a controller shaft turnably mounted on said housing to be manually turned to an on position, resilient mean-s for turning said shaft to an off position, a signal lamp for the controller, a normally open switch, an electric circuit for lighting said lamp and controlled by said switch, and an arm connected with said shaft for holding said switch closed in the on position of said shaft, said normally open switch comprising a stationary contact and a movable contact cooperative with said stationary contact, and said arm being adapted to move said movable contact to close said switch.

4. In a controller for machines, a housing, a controller shaft turnably mounted on said housing to be manually turned to an on position, resilient means for turning said shaft to an off position, an electric magnet mounted in said housing, a movably mounted armature for said electro-magnet, resilient means for urging said armature to an initial position, a keeper element connected-with said armature and located in a latching position when said armature isin said initial position, a bolt-like member movably mounted in said housing and in an on, position when engaging and held by said keeper element in its latching position, and means connected with said shaft for urging said bolt-like member to an off position when said shaft is in an off position and for moving said bolt-like member to an on position engaged and held by said keeper when said shaft is turned; to its on position and holding said shaft on its on position as long as said bolt-like member is in its on position.

5. In a controller for machines, a housing, a controller shaft turnably mounted on said housing to be manually turned to an on position, resilient means for turning said shaft to an off position, an electric magnet mounted in said housing, a movably mounted armature for said electro-magnet, resilient means for urging said armature to an initial position, a keeper element connected with said armature and located in a latching position when said armature is in said initial position, a bolt-like member movably mounted in said housing and in an on position when engaging and held by said keeper element in its latching position, and means connected with said shaft for urging said bolt-like member to an oflf position when said shaft is in an off position and for moving said bolt-like member to an on position engaged and held by said keeper when said shaft is turned to its on position and holding said shaft in its on position as long as said bolt-like member is in its on position, said bolt-like member having a hook portion with a beveled face for camming past said keeper element to an on position in front of the keeper element.

6. In a controller for machines, a housing, a controller shaft turnably mounted on said housing to be manually turned to an "on position, resilient means for turning said shaft to an off position, an electric ,magnet mounted in said housing, a movably mounted armature for said electro-magnet, resilient means for urging said armature to an initial position, a keeper element connected with said armature and located in a latching position when said armature is in said initial position, a bolt-like member movably mounted in said housing in an on position when engaging and held by said keeper element in its latching position, and means connected with said shaft for urging said bolt-like member to an off position when said shaft is in an off positionand for moving'said bolt-like member to an on position engaged and held by said keeper when said shaft is turned to an on position and holding said shaft in its on position as long as said bolt-like member is in its on position, said bolt-like member having a hook portion with a beveled face for camming past said keeper element to an on position in front of the keeper element and said bolt-like member having a base portion pivotally mounted within said housing.

'7. In a controller for machines, a housing, a controller shaft turnably mounted on said housing to be manually turned to an on position, resilient means for turning said shaft to an "on" position, an electric magnet mounted in said housing, a movably mounted armature for said electro-magnet,- resilient means for urging said armature to an initial position, a keeper element connected with said armature and located in a latching position when said armature is in said initial position, a bolt-like member movably mounted-in said housing and in an on position when engaging and held by said keeper element in its latching position, and means connected with said shaft for urging'said bolt-like member to an off position when said shaft is in an off position and for moving said bolt-like member to an on position engaged and held by said keeper when said shaft is turned to its on position and holding said shaft in its on position as long as said bolt-like member is in its on position, and including resilient means urging said bolt-like member to its off position, a stud connected with said controller shaft, a finger connected with said bolt-like member and engaging said stud due to the resilient action of said resilient means urging said bolt-like member to its off position.

8. In a controller for machines, a housing, a controller shaft turnably mounted on said housing to be manually turned to an on position, resilient means for turning said shaft to an off position, an electric magnet mounted in said housing, a movably mounted armature for said electro-magnet, resilient means for urging said armature to an initial position, a keeper element connected with said armature and located in a latching position when said armatureis in. said initial position, a. bolt-like member movably mounted in said housing and in an on position when engaging and held by said keeper element in its latching position, and means connected with said shaft for urging said bolt-like member to an off position when said shaft is in an o position and for moving said boltlike member to an on position engaged and held by said keeper when said shaft is turned to its on position and holding said shaft in its on position as long as said bolt-like member is in its on position, and including resilient means urging said bolt-likeimember to its off position, a stud connected with said controller shaft, a

finger connected with said bolt-like member and. engaging said stud due to the resilient action of said resilient means urging said bolt-like member to its off position, and a stop for limiting motion of said bolt-like member to its "on position.

9. In a controller for machines, a housing, a controller shaft turnably mounted on said housing to be manually turned to an on position, resilient means for turning said shaft to an off position, an electric magnet mounted in said housing, a movably mounted armature for said electro-magnet, resilient means for urging'said armature to an initial position, a keeper element connected with said armature and located in a latching position When said armature is in said initial position, a bolt-like member movably mounted in said housing and in an on position when engaging and held by said keeper element in its latching position, and means connected with said shaft for urging said bolt-like member to an off position when said shaft is in an off position and for moving said boltlike member to an on position engaged and held by said keeper when said shaft is turned to its on position and holding said shaft in its on position as long as said bolt-like member is in its on position, and including resilient means urging said bolt-like member to its off position, a stud connected with said controller shaft, a finger connected with said bolt-like member and engaging said stud due to the resilient action of said resilient means urging said bolt-like member to its off position, and a stop for limiting motion of said bolt-like member to its on position, said finger having a base portion engaging and holding said stud when said controller shaft is in its on position.

10. In a controller for machines, a housing, a controller shaft turnably mounted on said housing to be manually turned to an on position, resilient means for turning said shaft to an off position, an electric magnet mounted in said housing, a movably mounted armature for said electro-magnet, resilient means for urging said armature to an initial position, a keeper element connected with said armature and located in a latching position when said armature is in said initial position, a bolt-like member movably mounted in said housing and in an on position when engaging and held by said keeper element in its latching position, and means connected with said shaft for urging said bolt-like member to an off position when said shaft is in an off position and for moving said bolt-like member to an on position engaged, and push button means for manually moving said armature from its initial position.

11. In a controller for machines, a housing, a controller shaft turnably mounted on said housing to be manually turned to an on position, resilient means for turning said shaft to an off position, an electric magnet mounted in said housing, a movably mounted armature for said electro-magnet, resilient means for urging said armature to an initial position, a keeper element connected with said armature and located in a latching position when said armature is in said initial position, a bolt-like member movably mounted in said housing and in an on position when engaging and held by said keeper element in its latching position, and means connected with said shaft for urging said bolt-like member to an off position when said shaft is in an o position and for moving said bolt-like member to an on position engaged, and push button means for manually moving said armature from its initial position, comprising a push button mounted through a portion of said housing, a bell crank pivotally mounted on said housing and having one arm extended across the back of the push button and its other arm extended across said armature, and resilient means urging said bell crank to push said push buttons forwards.

. 12. A controller for machines, comprising a housing, a controller shaft turnably mounted on said housing to be manually turned to an on position, resilient means for turning said shaft to an off position, a movably mounted armature for an electro-magnet resilient means for urging said armature to an initial position, a keeper element connected with said armature and located in a latching position when said armature is in said initial position, a bolt-like member movably mounted in said housing and in an on position when engaging and held by said keeper element in its latching position, means connected with said shaft for urging said bolt-like member to an off position when said shaft is in an 01f position and for moving said bolt-like member to an on position engaged and held by said keeper when said shaft is turned to its on position and holding said shaft in its on position as long as said bolt-like member is in its on position, an electro-magn et for moving said armature from its initial position, a signal lamp for said controller, a normally open switch, means connected with said shaft for holding said switch closedin the on position of said shaft, an electric circuit for lighting said lamp and controlled by said switch, a second electric circuit for energizing said electromagnet, a stop motion switch device for normally keeping said second electric circuit open until activated, a switch for controlling said second electric circuit, and means for closing said latter switch when said shaft is in its on position and opening said latter switch when said shaft is in its off position.

EDWARD VOSSEN. 

